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‘Go and watch Erling Haaland’
Hamzad Kargbo excelled on his first Maidstone start - after being told to watch Erling Haaland for tips.Kargbo opened the scoring and provided an assist for John Gilbert as United beat Chippenham 3-0 at home in National League South on Saturday.
Hamzad Kargbo scored and provided an assist on his first Maidstone start. Picture: Steve TerrellThe big centre-forward’s outstanding performance came after manager George Elokobi encouraged him to watch footage of Manchester City goal machine Haaland.It did the trick for the former QPR youngster who’s been steadily building his fitness since arriving at the Gallagher Stadium as a free agent.He scored his first Stones goal after coming off the bench against Tonbridge last week and made it two in two home games after being named in the starting XI against former loan club Chippenham.“Hamzad Kargbo was absolutely brilliant today in terms of his forward play but more so being a presence in the box to make things happen for the team,” said Elokobi.
Jephte Tanga, whose cross set up Hamzad Kargbo's goal, gets down the left for Maidstone. Picture: Steve Terrell“He’s been waiting, he’s been patient, we have to make sure we manage him right because it’s important we don’t get too carried away and then we end up not having him for a long spell.“We’ve seen glimpses of him but it’s important we try and keep him as fit as he can be. “He took his goal well, and the assist as well, but his presence made a difference for us. “He’s got the aerial ability to pick out team-mates.Report: Maidstone 3-0 Chippenham“We’ve seen it in training, he was scoring headers for fun, so we just told him to be in the right areas and the ball will come.“And I’ve always used the example of one of the prolific goalscorers in world football at the moment, Erling Haaland.“He doesn’t touch the ball many times, however, in and around the 18-yard box, he’s deadly.
Maidstone winger Antony Papadpoulos jinks his way through the Chippenham defence. Picture: Steve Terrell“I’ve told Hamzad, go and watch some of those forwards, the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Erling Haaland, and it’s important he goes and he learns from these centre-forwards. “We had a conversation about it and I said you think your manager might be crazy but watch, watch the movements, watch how many touches that come if you do come short into the pockets, you set, get yourself in the box because that’s when you’ll be dangerous, and he’s done that.”Kargbo headed home Jephte Tanga’s ball to the back post and set up Gilbert from a Lexus Beeden cross before Dajon Golding added the third as Maidstone blew away Chippenham in the first half. Victory moved them up a place to ninth in National League South, two points outside the play-offs, and came after successive derby defeats by Tonbridge and Ebbsfleet.Elokobi, who switched to a back three and paired Kargbo and Golding in attack, said: “We set the boys a challenge. It was a terrific first half for us and a fantastic all-round team performance.“It had everything we’ve been asking for.
John Gilbert, scorer of Maidstone's second goal, puts in a challenge during the 3-0 win over Chippenham. Picture: Helen Cooper“Could we be better in possession and take the game more to them in the second half? Yes, we could have.“However, we asked the players to go into the game and be as positive as they can be in terms of possession, to be ruthless and relentless in our attacking play and when we get in goalscoring opportunities, can we take them? “That’s what the players have done, so incredible performances from individuals but also as a team.”Sign up to our Non-league Football newsletter and you can enjoy all the best bits from KentOnline every week direct to your inbox! To sign up, click here